Running the Sahara (2007)

Three men attempt to become the first humans to run coast to coast across the Sahara Desert.

Director:

James Moll

Stars:

Matt Damon, Charlie Engle, Kevin Lin

Cast

Credited cast:
Matt Damon	...	Narrator
Charlie Engle	...	Himself
Kevin Lin	...	Himself
Ray Zahab	...	Himself

Storyline

In 2006, an international expedition team of three men - Charlie Engle (USA), Ray Zahab (Canada) and Kevin Lin (Taiwan) undertook a quest that no human being has ever fulfilled. They ran across the Sahara Desert. Each runner brought his own unique story and motivations, but all unite around a love for Africa and a profound desire to prove that the impossible is possible. The film is an up-close, character-driven documentary that delves deep into the culture of the Sahara through the eyes of three individuals undergoing a life-altering experience. Along with the runners, we cross six countries: Senegal, Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Libya and Egypt. Through the eyes of our runners, we come to understand the realities of Africa - the beauty and the tragedy inherent in everyday life. This reality is underscored by the recurring theme of water - a daily necessity for our runners and a daily struggle for many of the people they encounter. The cast encountered many locals who spend two and half ...

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Plot Keywords:

sahara | runner | desert | running

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Genres:

Documentary | Sport

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Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 October 2008 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Egypt

Box Office

Budget:

$3,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Allentown Productions, LIFE(n), LivePlanet

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Connections

Referenced in Beyond the Expedition: Running the Sahara (2008)

User Reviews

Endurance,Thy Name Is Charlie,Kevin & Ray

Running The Sahara is a documentary about how three long distance runners manage to take on a near impossible feat:running across the continent of Africa,from the west,to Egypt. Charlie Engle,Kevin Lin & Ray Zahab took the risk,mainly because nobody else had ever done it. We see as the three start their journey in the west,and over a period of 111 days,and thousands of miles,manage to attempt something that has never been done before. James Moll,known mainly for his work as a documentary film maker for television,turns in a fine portrayal of the endurance of the human spirit. Along the way,the hapless three come across many stunning sights in the deserts,encounter a number of desert dwellers (including a seven year old boy who had never seen a white person before),and try & help some of the water issues plaguing some of the areas they come across. As with any undertaking of this sort,at times things are not so rosy (they deal with attitude issues,pain---both physical,as well as emotional,and other things associated with people concentrated together for a period of time). Some crisp cinematography & editing make this a fine film that would be at home either on the theater screen,but would play equally well on the small screen,too. Matt Damon supplies some fine narration for this outing (and was equally instrumental in assisting in the Africa H2O project to bring much needed water to areas in the desert). Spoken mainly in English,but also has some Cantonese & French,with English subtitles. Not rated by the MPAA,but contains some brief strong language.